I just don’t have the time to continue with The Ranando Report. Business is booming, the evil industry is calling, and many trips are planned. Montana, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Argentina and Pennsylvania Fly-Fishing is calling, one of my passions.

I’ve enjoyed all the people I’ve met on the blogs. I’ve enjoyed visiting all my favorite bloggers and I may be back when time is available. I will continue to visit and comment when I can.

I wish only the best for each and everyone of you, may your life be long. May your candidates win and may our country become what you’ve always dreamed it would.

Ranando

Failure after failure after failure........

and our Troops are paying the price.

Bush's War: Watch the full two hours here.

Interviews with the people that planned it, and fight it, from the highest levels to the lowest. The facts are here if you care to know them.

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What I came away with and found most interesting was when Dick Chaney was told of the attacks on the World Trade Center on 911. After being told Chaney was taking to a underground bunker in the White House. He was in charge at this time and some of the first words out of his mouth was, "Iraq did this." He was told at that time that was incorrect by Condi Rice and many others in the bunker and was told al-Qaeda did it. His reply, "Well then, link it to Iraq, find a link any link."

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The other issue that came out was that Gen. Tommy Franks told Dick Chaney and Donald Rumsfeld that it was a bad idea to attack Iraq and that they should stay on the trail of al-Qaeda. He told them that givin the orders he would plan the attack and carry it out but he would need 400,000 troops. Donald Rumsfeld told him he could have 75,000, they settled on 140,000. When he could no longer deal with Dick Chaney and Donald Rumsfeld and their mistakes, he resigned. That comes from Gen. Tommy Franks himself.

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If you were for going to Iraq or against going to Iraq, you can't argue with the FACTS and the FACTS are right here, documented FACTS, told in their own words.

A Must See.

Border - A Chris Burgard Film

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California filmmaker Chris Burgard’s award-winning, feature-length documentary, BORDER, takes a firsthand look at the dire and real human consequences of America’s failure to secure its borders. BORDER unleashes a haunting, inside look at what has arguably become a war zone: Rape Trees, illegal immigration, drug smuggling, sex trafficking, Mexican military incursions and more—all taking place at the United States’ southern border. From drug cartels and smuggler towns to besieged American ranchers routinely finding corpses on their properties, BORDER gives the viewer a front row seat. In footage of illegal border crossings and captures by the Border Patrol, BORDER focuses on the staggering number of people brutally victimized while illegally crossing from Mexico. The film includes startling covert thermal imaging footage of drug smugglers, a mere seven yards away from the hidden film crew, moving millions of dollars of drugs across the border into the United States where U.S. National Guard troops were forced to retreat on January 3rd of this year.

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BORDER takes you on a journey from state to state and exposes a failed system and a failed policy that Burgard and crew courageously dare to unveil. Presenting the facts and leaving it to the viewer to digest the stunning reality that exists along our southern border with Mexico, BORDER stands as an historic account of our broken border.

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Visit the website here.

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If you think the biggest problem with our open border is illegals, then you don't have a clue.

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Have you ever heard of a Rape Tree? Check it out here.

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Juan Hernandez Joins McCain Staff! See it here.

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Thank you George W. Bush.

It's all starting to make sense.

BBC: Bush's Grandfather Planned Fascist Coup In America:

New investigation sheds light on clique of powerbrokers, including Prescott Bush, who sought to overthrow U.S. government and implement Hitlerian policies

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A BBC Radio 4 investigation sheds new light on a major subject that has received little historical attention, the conspiracy on behalf of a group of influential powerbrokers, led by Prescott Bush, to overthrow FDR and implement a fascist dictatorship in the U.S. based around the ideology of Mussolini and Hitler.
In 1933, Marine Corps Maj.-Gen. Smedley Butler was approached by a wealthy and secretive group of industrialists and bankers, including Prescott Bush the current President's grandfather, who asked him to command a 500,000 strong rogue army of veterans that would help stage a coup to topple then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
According to the BBC, the plotters intended to impose a fascist takeover and "Adopt the policies of Hitler and Mussolini to beat the great depression."

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The conspirators were operating under the umbrella of a front group called the American Liberty League, which included many families that are still household names today, including Heinz, Colgate, Birds Eye and General Motors.
Butler played along with the clique to determine who was involved but later blew the whistle and identified the ringleaders in testimony given to the House Committee on un-American Activities.
However, the Committee refused to even question any of the individuals named by Butler and his testimony was omitted from the record, leading to charges that they were involved in covering the matter up, and the majority of the media blackballed the story.

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General Smedley Butler, author of the famous quote "war is a racket", exposed the fascist plotters but was subsequently demonized and shunned by the government and the media.

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In 1936, William Dodd, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, wrote a letter to President Roosevelt in which he stated,

"A clique of U.S. industrialists is
hell-bent to bring a fascist state to supplant our democratic government and is
working closely with the fascist regime in Germany and Italy. I have had plenty
of opportunity in my post in Berlin to witness how close some of our American
ruling families are to the Nazi regime.... A prominent executive of one of the
largest corporations, told me point blank that he would be ready to take
definite action to bring fascism into America if President Roosevelt continued
his progressive policies. Certain American industrialists had a great deal to do
with bringing fascist regimes into being in both Germany and Italy. They
extended aid to help Fascism occupy the seat of power, and they are helping to
keep it there. Propagandists for fascist groups try to dismiss the fascist
scare. We should be aware of the symptoms. When industrialists ignore laws
designed for social and economic progress they will seek recourse to a fascist
state when the institutions of our government compel them to comply with the
provisions."

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The proven record of Prescott Bush's involvement in financing the Nazi war machine dovetails with the fact that he was part of a criminal cabal that actively sought to impose a fascist coup in America.
Prescott did not succeed but many would argue that two generations down the line the mission has all but been accomplished.

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In his documentary film Martial Law, Alex Jones interviews John Buchanan, who was instrumental in uncovering the documents tying Prescott Bush to the financing of the Third Reich. Watch a clip above. The subject is also covered in Alex's upcoming film, End Game, which includes rare video of Smedley Butler's testimony.
Click here to listen to the BBC Radio 4 investigation.

Catholics Traditions vs God's Word.

The actual origins of Roman Catholicism date back to around the fourth century A.D. Over the course of many centuries since then, numerous rituals and traditions have been added thus causing it to gradually become the worldwide religion that it is today. Each of these man-made traditions themselves, have "morphed" from their original ideas over many hundreds of years. We will briefly review several Roman Catholic traditions, and compare them to God's Holy Word, The Bible.

The Mass and Transubstantiation
Roman Catholic Tradition: The Mass is the core belief of Roman Catholics. During the Mass, Christ is mistakenly "offered up for sacrifice" over and over, which is in direct contradiction to God's Word. This is summed up in the idea of Transubstantiation: the belief that the wafer and the wine used in communion, are somehow mystically transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ during every Mass, thus attempting to renew His sacrifice as often as a Mass is performed.
God's Biblical Truth: Jesus was only sacrificed ONCE for all eternity! "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God..." (Hebrews 10:12)
"Nor yet that he should offer himself often... For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 9:25-26)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." (Hebrews 9:28) "...we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10)
"Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:27)

Salvation Through Good Works
Roman Catholic Tradition: Belief that doing good deeds automatically gets one into Heaven.
God's Biblical Truth: We cannot do anything on our own strength to rid ourselves of sins. It is only trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ (shed ONCE for all time on Calvary), that can make us free from sin. "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
The Lord says that our works by themselves, are dead. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)
Furthermore, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Veneration (Worship) of Mary
Roman Catholic Tradition: Roman Catholics regard Mary as the 'Queen of Heaven'. She is considered by them to be divine like the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), and is venerated and prayed to for intercession and salvation.
God's Biblical Truth: It is ONLY Jesus Christ who makes intercession for us! "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
It is ONLY Jesus Christ who can save us! "...Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)
The Lord Himself says we need to look ONLY to Him for salvation! "...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:21-22)
Finally, Jesus said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Without Him, there isn't any access to the Father!

Prayers to Deceased "Saints"
Roman Catholic Tradition: Prayers are made to innumerable dead "Saints" for certain things. For example, 'Pray to "Saint" Anthony when you lose something, to "Saint" Jude for dire needs, etc'.
God's Biblical Truth: We are to pray to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name. "...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." (John 16:23)
Praying to anyone besides the Lord is idolatry. "I am the LORD thy God... Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2-3)

Confession of Sins to a Man
Roman Catholic Tradition: People go before a priest and confess their sins, so they will supposedly be forgiven. The priest is claimed to be the mediator between sinful humans and a righteous God.
God's Biblical Truth: Jesus Christ is the ONLY mediator. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
ONLY Jesus Christ can take our sins away. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation (atonement, appeasement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)

The Rosary
Roman Catholic Tradition: The Rosary is a series of rote prayers done in homage to Mary and is believed to 'pardon' one's sins and to help get dead people out of 'Purgatory'.
God's Biblical Truth: Prayer beads, including the Rosary, are a product of paganism. (Muslims and Hindus also use prayer beads.) Jesus taught, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them..." (Matthew 6:7-8)

Statues, Icons, and Images
Roman Catholic Tradition: Statues or images of Jesus, Mary, angels, etc. are considered sacred and are often kissed, touched, or knelt in front of.
God's Biblical Truth: All of the above, including statues of 'Jesus', is idolatry. "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 26:1)
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them..." (Exodus 20:4-5)

Purgatory
Roman Catholic Tradition: Unbiblical belief that a dead person's soul needs further purging of sins before being allowed into Heaven. Roman Catholics believe that the soul is purified in fire to remove the effects of sin. Through the prayers of the living and the ceremony of the Mass, the deceased is supposed to reach Heaven over the course of time. The Council of Trent "officially" defined this tradition in the 16th century.
God's Biblical Truth: This false teaching literally has damnable effects, for it suggests that people can eventually get into Heaven without having first repented of their sins and turned their lives over to the Savior. If the idea of Purgatory were true, then Jesus Christ's one-time sacrifice on Calvary would be both pointless and unnecessary, since we would be able to reach Heaven without Him. Jesus however, taught that the only way to the Father was through Him (John 14:6). He also instructed us that not everyone goes to Heaven, "...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) and "...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
The tradition of Purgatory also suggests that Jesus' death on the cross is insufficient in freeing us from the effects of our sins after we die. The Bible however, states that, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) and "...their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17) This means free of all of our sins and their effects for all eternity!
Furthermore, Jesus only spoke of Heaven and Hell when He taught, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29) The Bible teaches that those who have been born-again will have their names written in the Book of Life and will be in Heaven. Likewise, those who are not in the Book of Life, will be cast into Hell. It's either one or the other; there isn't any other destination.

In Conclusion
These are just a few of the MANY unbiblical traditions of Roman Catholicism. Jesus Christ had a strong opinion about religious traditions created by men. He proclaimed, "...Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, THIS PEOPLE HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. HOWBEIT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:6-9) Jesus also spoke about the truth of God's Word and our need to apply it to our lives. He said, "He that is of God heareth God's words..." (John 8:47) and "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) God's truths don't evolve over centuries. His Gospel is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (See Heb. 13:8) Don't be deceived. There are a lot of nice, church-going religious people who have missed Heaven and ended up in Hell because they stubbornly held on to their man-made traditions, instead of God's truth as revealed in The Bible. You don't have to be one of these unfortunate people. We respectfully and sincerely urge you to repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ today...

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I put this Church right up there with Islam, disgusting.

Let the Truth Be Known.

ON FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ INVASION FRONTLINE PRESENTS DEFINITIVE CHRONICLE OF BUSH'S WAR ON TERROR

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FRONTLINE presents BUSH'S WAR March 24 & 25, 2008, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS

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From the horror of 9/11 to the invasion of Iraq; the truth about WMD to the rise of an insurgency; the scandal of Abu Ghraib to the strategy of the surge -- for six years, FRONTLINE has revealed the defining stories of the war on terror in meticulous detail, and the political dramas that played out at the highest levels of power and influence.

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Now, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the full saga unfolds in the two-part FRONTLINE special Bush's War, airing Monday, March 24, 2008, from 9 to 11:30 P.M. and Tuesday, March 25, from 9 to 11 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings). Veteran FRONTLINE producer Michael Kirk (The Lost Year in Iraq, The Dark Side) draws on one of the richest archives in broadcast journalism -- more than 40 FRONTLINE reports on the war on terror.

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Combined with fresh reporting and new interviews, Bush's War will be the definitive documentary analysis of one of the most challenging periods in the nation's history.

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"Parts of this history have been told before," Kirk says. "But no one has laid out the entire narrative to reveal in one epic story the scope and detail of how this war began and how it has been fought, both on the ground and deep inside the government."

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Since the war on terror began, FRONTLINE's award-winning reporting has gone behind the headlines to connect the dots and reveal the true story of an administration at war with itself over how to respond to the devastating 9/11 attacks.

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In the fall of 2001, even as America was waging a war in Afghanistan, another hidden war was being waged inside the administration. Part 1 of Bush's War, airing Monday, March 24, from 9 to 11:30 P.M. ET, tells the story of this behind-the-scenes battle over whether Iraq would be the next target in the war on terror.

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On one side, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet squared off against Vice President Dick Cheney and his longtime ally, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The battles were over policy -- whether to attack Iraq; the role of Iraqi exile Ahmad Chalabi; how to treat detainees; whether to seek United Nations resolutions; and the value of intelligence suggesting a connection between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks -- but the conflict was deeply personal.

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"Friendships were dashed," Powell's deputy Richard Armitage tells FRONTLINE. As the war within the administration heated up, Armitage and Powell concluded that they were being shut out of key decisions by Cheney and Rumsfeld. "The battle of ideas, you generally come up with the best solution. When somebody hijacks the system, then, just like a hijacked airplane, very often no good comes of it," Armitage adds.

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Others inside the administration believe they understand the motivation behind some of the vice president's actions. "I think the vice president felt he kind of looked death in the eye on 9/11," former White House counterterrorism coordinator Richard Clarke says. "Three thousand Americans died. The building that the vice president used to work in blew up, and people died there. This was a cold slap in the face. This is a different world you're living in now. And the enemy's still out there, and the enemy could come after you. That does cause you to think [about] things differently."

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More than anything else, the Iraq war will be the lasting legacy of the Bush presidency. Part 2 of Bush's War, airing Tuesday, March 25, from 9 to 11p.m. ET, examines that war -- beginning with the quick American victory in Iraq, the early mistakes that were made, and then recounting the story of how chaos, looting and violence quickly engulfed the country.

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As American forces realized they were unprepared for the looting that followed the invasion, plans for a swift withdrawal of troops were put on hold. With only a few weeks' preparation, American administrator L. Paul Bremer was sent to find a political solution to a rapidly deteriorating situation. Bremer's first moves were to disband the Iraqi military and remove members of Saddam Hussein's party from the government. They were decisions that the original head of reconstruction, Gen. Jay Garner (Ret.), begged Bremer to reconsider at the time. Now they are seen by others as one of the first in a series of missteps that would lead Iraq into a full-blown insurgency.

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But Bremer has his defenders: "We believed, Bremer believed, and I think the leadership in Washington believed that it was very important to demonstrate to the Iraqi people that whatever else was going to happen, Saddam and his cronies were not coming back," Walter Slocombe, the national security adviser to Bremer, tells FRONTLINE.

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Garner was not the only one on the outside. As senior officials complained about inattention at the top, Gen. Tommy Franks and his deputy, Gen. Michael DeLong -- the generals who had planned the war -- found that decisions were being made without them as well.

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"All the recommendations that we were making now in the Phase IV part weren't being taken -- weren't being taken by Bremer or Rumsfeld," DeLong tells FRONTLINE. "That's when Franks said, 'I'm done.' They said, 'Well, you'll be chief of staff of the Army.' He said, 'No, I'm done.'"

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What followed is well documented: insurgency, sectarian strife, prisoner abuse and growing casualties. But within the administration, a new battle over strategy was being fought -- this one between a new secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. The clash between America's top diplomat and its chief defense official would go on for more than two years and be settled only after the Republican loss in the 2006 congressional elections. It was then that the president forced Rumsfeld out, ended his strategy of slow withdrawal and ordered a surge of troops. FRONTLINE goes behind closed doors to tell the most recent chapter in this ongoing story, and asks what Bush will leave for a new U.S. president both in Iraq and in the larger war on terror.

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Bush's War is a FRONTLINE co-production with Kirk Documentary Group, Ltd. The writer, producer and director is Michael Kirk. The producer and reporter is Jim Gilmore. FRONTLINE is produced by WGBH Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers. Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Park Foundation. FRONTLINE is closed-captioned for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers and described for people who are blind or visually impaired by the Media Access Group at WGBH.

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FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. The executive producer of FRONTLINE is David Fanning.

HAPPY EASTER!

Break Time.

Taking a break from posting for awhile, just to much going on.
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I'll be around committing on my favorite blogs but as far as posting, I need a rest.

I’m really trying to understand……Why this Pastor means anything to anyone.

I’ve always believed if you’re sick the worst place to go is a hospital. I also believe if you need to worship God the worst place to go is a church.

As a child I was also taught not to put any man before God. Your relationship with God is between you and him and you have his word, the Bible to guide you along.

So I don’t put much into anything man has to say when it comes to God. I also believe God doesn’t put much into anything man has to say to. Man comes up with the dumbest rules when it comes to what God wants. Like you can’t say God Damn but it’s OK to say God Bless, WTF.

As far as Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr statements, they mean nothing to me. Neither do statements by Malcolm X, Louis Farrrakhan, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Pat Robertson, and The Pope, especially the Pope, or any other man that thinks he speaks for God.

When the hell-fire starts coming down I want to be as far from any church as possible, believe me.

I’m close to my God when I’m on my surfboard, fishing in a stream, taking a walk with my wife and dogs, spending time with my family, traveling the World and meeting new people, riding my tractor, hiding my horse and getting up every morning and walking outside and taking a look around me, that’s what it’s all about to me.

Let me add, do I have a problem with the Bible? Much of it I do, it was written by man now wasn’t it?

This I do believe:

He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:7

Dear Miss Manners,

I am a 50 year old Catholic priest who appreciates your contribution to a more civilized world. As a priest, people are usually polite and well-mannered in my presence, with one glaring exception.

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I confess that I am a bit irked by the growing popularity of addressing total strangers by their first names in the banking industry. The tellers at my bank always address me by my first name, even when I am attired in full priestly garb. I have tried responding, "Oh, do I know you? Since you used my first name, I feel sure I should remember yours. I am so sorry."
Am I being too persnickety in thinking that one should use a title (Fr., Mr., etc.) when addressing an older, business client? I spoke once to a branch manager who informed me it was the "company policy." Am I wrong for preferring a little more decorum in these situations? Read Here:

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Fuck You, I would never call you Father, you're not my Father. In fact to me your nothing more than a Catholic Cock-Sucking Rump-Ranger. If I had kids I would teach them to start screaming everytime you came around, you pathetic piece of shit.